Abstract: Video data is edited by forming a plurality of vertically oriented video clips for each frame of video data, with each clip being positioned in its associated stacks in a hierarchy from background to foreground at the relative time of occurrence of the associated frame; with the stacks being displayed on a video display, whereby a cursor is used to capture one or more successive video clips in a given stack, for moving the video clip(s) to another of the stacks, for rearranging the video clips amongst the stacks to achieve a desired effect. Audio data is also formed into a plurality of audio clips, each for positioning at an end of an associated stack of video clips, whereby the cursor is used for capturing and moving the audio clips amongst the stacks of video clips for obtaining a desired effect.